Horticultural Science

Horticultural Science (i.e., “the green industries”) is the largest segment of plant agriculture, by economic measures, in Massachusetts and New England. Abundant career opportunities exist in the field and in related industries and services.

The next generation of students graduating from Land Grant universities will be faced with the challenge to redesign landscapes in response to diminishing supplies of fossil fuels and water as well as greater financial stress in public and private enterprises.

Students in Horticultural Science may pursue a variety of careers:

Landscape plant production and use – plant production in greenhouses, outdoor plant production in field and container nurseries of woody landscape, wetland, and native plants; plant propagation by tissue culture and other means, and landscape firms specializing in landscape and garden design, plant installation, and plant maintenance.

Allied commercial businesses – technical and sales representatives for firms specializing in greenhouse and nursery supplies, landscape plant breeding and improvement, production of horticultural substrates and compost, commercial soil testing, production of biological control agents and “biorational” pest control materials, and design and marketing of greenhouses and other major pieces of horticultural equipment.

Education and recreation ‐ public outreach through state and federal government agencies, education programs providing courses at community colleges, adult education programs, and youth education at vocational and other high schools. Positions of horticulturalist or grounds administrator at botanical gardens, arboreta, public parks, historical sites, zoos and theme parks are also available.

Recently, two Horticultural Science students assited in the building of a pollinator garden, part of the Million Pollinator Gardens initiative. Check out the video here: